Lubbock Republican state Rep. Dustin Burrows clinched the Texas House speakership Tuesday with 85 votes in the 150-member chamber.

AUSTIN — Texas House lawmakers elected Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows as speaker Tuesday, shortly after the Legislature’s 89th regular session began.

Burrows bested challenger David Cook (R-Mansfield) in a runoff vote on the first day of the Texas Legislature in Austin.

The Texas House of Representatives elected Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) as its next speaker of the house. The House voted 85-55 in favor of Burrows over Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield). Nine members did not vote. Burrows' votes came from 46 Democrats and 39 Republicans.

The new speaker will have a dramatic impact on the direction of this year’s lawmaking — and potentially the future of the Legislature.

The Texas House will be faced with a decision for House Speaker when the session begins Tuesday. Last month, Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) said he had enough support between Democrats and Republicans to become speaker.

AUSTIN, Texas — he Texas State Legislature kicks off its new session on Tuesday but who will lead the House remains uncertain. "This is the most contentious fight for speaker that we've seen in a public setting in a very,

A fight has been brewing over who will lead the Texas House as Speaker. Two Republicans are the leading candidates for Speaker: David Cook of Mansfield and Dustin Burrows of Lubbock.

After current House Speaker Dade Phelan dropped his bid to keep the gavel in early December, one member of his leadership team, Representative Dustin Burrows of Lubbock entered the race pitting himself against Representative David Cook of Mansfield.